Open AccessOptimizing the retrieval efficiency of stored light pulses
Author(s) -
Thorsten Peters,
YiHsin Chen,
Jian-Siung Wang,
Yen-Wei Lin,
Ite A. Yu
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.17.006665
Subject(s) - stray light , zeeman effect , optics , coherence (philosophical gambling strategy) , physics , amplitude , magnetic field , electromagnetically induced transparency , coherence time , laser , quantum mechanics
We study the retrieval efficiency of stored light pulses based on electromagnetically induced transparency in multiple simultaneously driven Lambda-systems. The light pulses are stored in coherences between different Zeeman states of laser-cooled atoms. When the stray magnetic field from the environment is minimized by compensation coils we observed a smaller retrieved probe pulse amplitude than for a small externally applied magnetic field, i.e., a seemingly shorter coherence time. We identify this effect as a beating of several coherences due to a very small uncompensated dc magnetic stray field. By intentionally applying a small magnetic field larger than this stray field we were able to increase the retrieved probe pulse amplitude up to five-fold to the value determined by the true coherence time of our system.